Arvest Bank will hold a one-day donation drive called “Feed the Pack Day” in multiple cities across Baxter and Marion Counties to help reduce food insecurity in North Central Arkansas. Donations to Feed the Pack will support area backpack food programs that provide food for school children on weekends and holidays, times when they may not have access to enough food.

Arvest Bank is asking for individuals or groups of volunteers who can assist with the collection drive at various locations.

On Friday, April 27, community volunteers will be stationed at the corner of Hwy. 62 and Cardinal Dr. in Mountain Home from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Volunteers will also be located outside Harps in Mountain Home and Yellville, Walmart in Mountain Home and Flippin, Town and Country in Mountain Home, Shoe Sensation in Mountain Home, and SunFest in Gassville from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All donations directly support the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas’ Backpack Program, as well as other organizations in Baxter and Marion counties that operate a backpack program.

“The backpack programs in this area serve a widespread need and they are often the difference for hundreds of children between having food and going without a meal,” said Jeff Quick, president and CEO of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas. “We see an increased need for food during the summer months, when children don’t have access to school meal programs. The financial support we receive now helps us stock our shelves later in the year, when donations begin to get sparse.” Quick said more than 600 children in Baxter County alone are served by backpack programs.

Arvest Bank created Feed the Pack Day in 2016 and has collected $35,000 during the past two fundraising drives, equating to 175,000 meals for local children who are supported by backpack programs. In addition, 4,000 nonperishable food items have been collected during Feed the Pack.

“Our success for these children depends upon two things – the number of volunteers we have to accept donations, and the generosity of the wonderful people in these communities,” said

Tiffany Watkins, assistant vice president and marketing director for Arvest Bank in North Central Arkansas. “A donation of only one dollar provides five meals, so we have the potential to help ensure these children don’t go hungry for the remainder of this year.”

Individual volunteers, groups or businesses who are interested in volunteering for Feed the Pack Day may sign up online here, or they may contact Tiffany Watkins with Arvest Bank at twatkins@arvest.com.

Radio station KTLO 97.9 FM will broadcast live updates on the amount of money raised throughout the day, with the announcement of the grand total planned for 7 p.m. The Baxter Bulletin will post updates on its web site as well.

Feed the Pack Day is a community event that is held in support of Arvest Bank’s 8th annual 1 Million Meals campaign that challenges bank associates, customers and community members to participate in fundraising efforts and nonperishable food drives to fight hunger in the more than 120 communities the bank serves. The initiative is needed, as the United States Department of Agriculture reports more than 12 percent of American households surveyed in 2015 were food insecure.

The goal of the two-month, bank-wide effort is to collect enough food or monetary donations to provide at least one million meals to local, hungry families. Donations to Arvest’s 1 Million Meals campaign may be dropped off at any Arvest Bank location by June 2 or by calling (866) 952-9523. Arvest credit card customers can donate Arvest Flex Rewards™ points by visiting arvestflexrewards.com and clicking on the 1 Million Meals banner, and customers who use the Arvest Go mobile banking app may contribute through the app as well.

About Arvest Bank

Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2017, operates more than 250 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 15 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 120 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.